PressTV-US slaps sanctions on top Nicaraguan officials

The United States has imposed sanctions on three senior Nicaraguan officials, including the country’s police chief, accusing them of attacking anti-government protesters, human rights abuses and corruption.

The US Treasury Department said in a statement on Thursday that the sanctioned individuals included Francisco Javier Diaz Madriz, a commissioner with Nicaragua’s National Police, a man associated with violence perpetrated by pro-government groups and a governing party official.

The sanctions were imposed on the officials because of concerns over the “ongoing crisis in Nicaragua,” including “violence perpetrated by security forces and others that have resulted in the death of at least 220 demonstrators, and nearly 1,500 injured,” the statement said.

Under the sanctions, assets belonging to the targeted officials in the US are blocked and American citizens are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them or entities they…